Parkland Gun Control PAC Raises Fraction of Its Fundraising Goal ahead of Midterms

Oct 30, 2018

By: Teresa Mull

A political action committee (PAC) formed in the wake of the Parkland, Florida school shooting has raised a fraction of its fundraising goal intended to drum-up support for increased gun control ahead of the midterm elections.

“Families vs. Assault Rifles” was formed in May 2018. Mcclatchydc.com reports:

At its launch, Gohd, a long-time Democratic donor who has worked at numerous investment firms, told the Miami Herald it had an ambitious goal: to raise $10 million and act as a counterweight to the National Rifle Association, one of the most powerful and successful political activist groups in the country. It planned to target politicians who opposed gun safety regulations. So far, it’s only raised $230,000 – much of which came soon after the group was first launched. From July through the end of September, the group took in less than $30,000 and had only $13,000 left in the bank.

“None of us had a grasp of how difficult this would be,” Gohd said. “We needed more resources, more people.”

The group is currently “regrouping,” Gohd said, as it considers its next steps, with a thought to greater activity in the 2020 presidential election cycle.

GPM reported last week that national support for gun control, according to a recent Gallup poll, is down 6 points since March 2018 and has dropped 17 percent since 1990. Current support for a ban on AR-15s and similar weapons is also down among Americans.